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Pflugerville schools
November 10, 2009
Pflugerville discontinues public access to high school tracks
Saying they spent over $20,000 last year to fix vandalism and misuse at their three high school track facilities, Pflugerville school district officials announced that they would be closed to the public beginning Nov. 30.
District facilities officials said the tracks and fields have been littered with dog feces and damaged by bikes and skateboards. Signs and banners have also been stolen and vandalized.
“In order to keep our facilities maintained for our student athletes and to reduce costs related to misuse, the district came to the decision it was time to close the high school tracks to the public,” Pflugerville Superintendent Charles Dupre said in a statement released Tuesday. “We regret the need to close the high school tracks to the public, but at a time where the district is exploring every option to save money, we can’t justify spending over $20,000 repairing damage done by the misuse of the facilities.”
The district said middle school tracks and outdoor areas at several elementary schools are still available for public use.
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September 1, 2009
Principal: Shotgun blasts from dove hunting
Don’t worry about those shotgun blasts, kids.
It’s just hunting season.
This morning, Devin Padavil, principal of Kelly Lane Middle School in Pflugerville, sent out a message to parents letting them know that the gunfire echoing though the Kelly Lane neighborhood was due to hunting taking place in a tree line several miles away.
“Apparently today is the beginning of dove season, a day when folks can hunt down and destroy the international symbol of peace,” Padivail said in an e-mail sent to parents. “There are either a lot of doves or someone that isn’t a very good hunter.”
Padavil added, “Pflugerville PD has been called and are working to assure that the hunters are well out of range. Please know your kids are perfectly safe and I will continue to follow up with the Pflugerville PD.”
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April 9, 2009
Pflugerville decision to delay school opening scrutinized
KVUE aired a story last night on the Pflugerville school district’s decision to delay the opening of Jose Riojas Elementary School a year because to slowing enrollment growth. (District press release here.)
Amy Johnston reports that “many parents are questioning its decision to leave a brand new elementary school empty”:
Construction on the $12 million Pflugerville Elementary School will wrap up by August, but the students won’t arrive for another whole year.
“They have the school built. It’s just going to sit there. They need to open it and use it for what it’s supposed to be used for,” said Rebecca Hunt, Murchison parent.
[snip]
“It would costs us almost a million dollars to open that school, in terms of operating, staffing, operating costs with utilities and things that are involved to open a new building and run that building for the year,” said [Superintendent Charles] Dupre.
What do you think the district should do with the Jose Riojas Elementary School building next school year?
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February 13, 2009
Pflugerville school fundraiser products subject to PB recall
Update, 5:20 p.m.
Cookie dough sold in some Round Rock school district fundraisers is also affected by the recall. Round Rock district spokeswoman JoyLynn Occhiuzzi said that after hearing from the Statesman, the district checked with campuses and found that several had sold the recalled cookie dough products as fundraisers in partnership with WIT Fundraisers.
Those schools include Hopewell and Cedar Valley middle schools and Brushy Creek Elementary school. Other campuses and PTA groups may also have sold the cookie dough, Occhiuzzi said.
From the Pflugerville school district:
Copperfield, Highland Park, Spring Hill, and Rowe Lane elementary schools, along with Delco and Windermere primary schools recently received information from the group that manages one of their fundraising programs, saying that Blue Ribbon Products, Inc. is voluntarily recalling its three (3) pound containers of Ultimate Gourmet Peanut Butter Cookie Dough because the peanut butter used to make the cookie dough was supplied by Peanut Corporation of America and may be contaminated with Salmonella.
The following items — shipped from Jan. 1, 2007, to Jan. 20 of this year — have been recalled:
Blue Ribbon Products Ultimate Gourmet* 3 lb. peanut butter tub item number 4104 UPC Code # 7336700043* 3 lb. peanut butter box item number 5104 UPC Code # 7336700034* Shipped from January 1, 2007 January 20, 2009Little Lambs Gourmet Cookie Dough * 48 1oz. pre-portion peanut butter item number 5104B (red box) UPC Code # 7336700034 * Shipped from September 17, 2008 January 20, 2009Neither Blue Ribbon Products, Inc. nor its customers have received any reports of illness connected to any of these products. THIS RECALL ONLY APPLIES TO PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE DOUGH. Any recalled peanut butter cookie dough should be destroyed. No other Blue Ribbon Products, Inc.s products are included in this recall.If you, a family member, friend or neighbor purchased one of the items listed above, please dispose of the cookie dough and return the empty box to your campus. They will take your contact information and the fundraising company will mail you a refund for the purchase price of the product.Because the campuses do not have the personal contact information for every person who may have purchased the recalled peanut butter cookie dough, we are asking for your help in notifying anyone you think may have bought this product as part of campus fundraising efforts.Consumers with questions regarding this recall may contact 866-386-3724 or www.866fundraise.com. Additional information about Peanut Corporation of Americas recall can be found at www.peanutcorp.com or by calling 1-877-564-7080.Please contact your campus if you have additional questions.PISD spokeswoman Amanda Brim says that WIT Fundraisers is the group that some Pflugerville schools had worked with to sell the cookie dough. Blue Ribbon Products Inc. actually produces the cookie dough products.
Blue RIbbon Products announced the voluntary recall on Feb. 3.
The FDA has a list of products involved in the peanut butter recall.
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February 11, 2009
Pflugerville High students returning after evacuation
From Pflugerville High School:
A little after 9 a.m., Pflugerville High School received a suspicious phone call. As a precautionary measure, all students and staff were moved outside the building, and police dogs were called in to search the facility.
Students were evacuated outside and eventually transported to First Baptist Church in Pflugerville and Pflugerville Middle School. The high school has now been cleared by officers, and students are currently returning to the campus. School will resume until the regular high school dismissal time at 4:15 p.m.
At no time were any students in danger. Parents are encouraged not to pick their children up at this time, as we anticipate resuming classes shortly.
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February 9, 2009
Pflugerville High closes at noon Monday
In the past three years, Pflugerville High School has been closed three times because of weather. On Monday, the school closed because of an opossum.
Students were sent home at noon Monday after parts of the school lost power when the marsupial got into the electrical unit and shorted a fuse, acting Principal Kirk Wrinkle said in an e-mail to parents.
Classes were scheduled to be open as normal Tuesday, spokeswoman Amanda Brim said.
Wrinkle’s message went out to parents who subscribe to a listserv, Brim said. Parents who were not members were notified by telephone, she said.
Buses began running about noon to send kids back home, Brim said.
More than 2,000 students attend Pflugerville High, Brim said.
Oncor Electric Delivery Service provides electricity to the school. Several calls to Oncor’s Round Rock office were not returned Monday.
Brim estimated that in the past three years, the school has been closed three times because of weather, but not this school year.
“I’ve been here three years and have never seen anything like this,” she said..
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January 29, 2009
Local schools want to know what you think
While the Austin school district is working with a management consulting company to figure out how it can be more efficient, the Pflugerville school district is working with the National Education Association to figure out what parents and staff think of its schools.
The Pflugerville survey closes on Jan. 30. You can access the survey at http://www.pflugervilleisd.net/features/keys.cfm.
Austin will hold a live, in-person open house at Martin Middle School on Feb. 19. Or you can just visit http://austinisd.mgtamer.com and submit your comments there. Anonymity guaranteed, they say.
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December 9, 2008
Chuck Norris fought the GPS...and the GPS won
Chuck Norris’ fist might be the only hand that can beat a royal flush, but even he couldn’t make his GPS locate a road that wasn’t there a few short years ago.
Norris was in town Monday night to attend a ceremony marking the expansion of his Kickstart program, which brings martial arts lessons into public schools, to the Pflugerville schools. But he was a few minutes late to the reception in Pflugerville. The explanation: Once Norris, his wife and their entourage hit Texas 45, the system went haywire. Apparently the software didn’t know that the road existed.
Whoops. Sorry, Chuck Norris.
(Check tomorrow’s Statesman for more on the new martial arts program in Pflugerville!)
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October 30, 2008
Do schools events and election day collide?
I’ve been asked to write a story about school districts scheduling events like band performances and football games on election day and how that might affect parents, teachers, coaches and other Texans of voting age.
So:
Are you a parent worried that attending the UIL State Marching Band Contest at the Alamodome Tuesday might keep you from voting?
Or a parent concerned that enjoying the musical stylings of the Fall String Festival at Zilker Park during your lunch break might prevent you from reaching the polls?
If your kid is supposed to play in an 8th grade away football game Tuesday night, is that going to conflict with you doing your civic duty?
If you’re affected by these scheduling dilemnas, go ahead and weigh in in the comment section below, or email me.
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October 13, 2008
You Oughta Be in Pictures Monday: Pflugerville Middle School students take on state reps
From Amanda Brim in the Pflugerville school district:
Mark Strama and Jerry Mikus visited Melony Kempf’s class for a Q and A session with students. (Pictured at right.) Her classes have been researching the election issues and comparing the candidates. The students became very involved and opinionated, so Melony arranged for the candidates to come to her classes and speak with the students.Incumbent state Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin, is seeking a third term representing northern Travis County in the Texas House of Representatives. Mikus and Libertarian Jerry Chandler are vying to topple him.
Some might say the classroom was a particularly appropriate venue for the candidates because Mikus has named eliminating school property taxes as one of his top issues. Strama has said that most of his constituents consistently say a quality education system trumps lower taxes. Read more about the race here.
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September 12, 2008
ACT college testing postponed
FROM AISD:
The ACT college test corporation has postponed testing scheduled for Saturday, September 13, at Texas school districts affected by Hurricane Ike.
In Austin ISD, tests were scheduled to be given at Anderson, Akins, Lanier, Reagan, and Travis high schools.
ACT indicated that it will contact those students who were registered for the test with rescheduling information later this Fall.
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August 25, 2008
First day of school jitters, snafus, and whatchamacallits
Today’s the first day of school everywhere in Statesman-land except Pflugerville and Round Rock.
Rejoice or mourn, the choice is yours.
Statesman photographer Larry Kolvoord talked to 4-year-old Madison Briones, right, this morning at Sanchez Elementary. Madison was heartbroken after learning that she wouldn’t be able to attend pre-kindergarten classes on the first day because of a paperwork glitch.
‘Everybody is going to school besides me,’ she cried to her mom.
Did you experience any first day of school issues? Have any words of advice to offer Madison?
Updated, 5 p.m.: Leander school district spokesman Dick Ellis says that the district welcomed 27,528 students to school today without a hitch. The district opened four new campuses today too.
“It was perfect,” he said. “A really good first day.”
Check out the sights and sounds of Leander’s first day of school.
Updated, 8/26, for the curious: A Sanchez assistant principal told the Statesman that Madison got her paperwork straightened out and will be in class Wednesday morning.
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August 21, 2008
Central Texas back to school calendar
August 25 - First day of classes for following school districts: Austin, Bastrop, Del Valle, Dripping Springs, Eanes, Georgetown, Hays, Lake Travis, Leander, Manor, San Marcos and Wimberley. Also first day of classes at Austin Community College, and St. Edward’s and Southwestern universities.
August 26 - First day of classes for Lago Vista, Pflugerville and Round Rock ISDs. August 27 - First day of classes for Texas State University and the University of Texas.
September 1 - The following school districts are closed for the Labor Day holiday: Austin, Bastrop, Del Valle, Dripping Springs, Eanes, Georgetown, Hays, Lago Vista, Lake Travis, Leander, Manor, Pflugerville, Round Rock, San Marcos and Wimberley. It’s also a holiday at Austin Community College, St. Edward’s University, Southwestern University, Texas State University and the University of Texas.
September 2 - First day of classes at Huston-Tillotson University.
September 10 - First day of classes at Concordia University.
Check your local district’s website for first-day details, like Austin’s school bus stop locator, and other events.
If you’re lucky enough to live in Wimberley, for example, your kids can get vaccinations and free haircuts — two of any child’s favorite activities — at the Back to School Fiesta on Saturday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of Wimberley.
(Cal Warlick cartoon at right)
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May 28, 2008
Pflugerville students visit rock quarry
Check out this video of fourth graders from Highland Park Elementary School in Pflugerville learning about rocks and aquifer protection at a Hays County limestone quarry:
It was posted on the KBDJ quarry’s blog today. You know the ol’ Internet has caught on when a limestone quarry has its own blog.
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May 13, 2008
Central Texas high school graduation dates set
We’ve compiled graduation dates for area high schools. Let us know if we’ve left one out, and if there’s a graduating senior (or two, or three, or 1,543) that you’re particularly proud of!
(All times are ceremony starting times. Seniors should check with their schools for their arrival times.)
Austin
6/3, Rosedale School, 1 p.m., at the Rosedale School
6/4, Garza, 7 p.m., Delco Center
6/5, Akins, 3 p.m.; Anderson, 5:45 p.m.; Austin, 8:30 p.m., all at Frank Erwin Center
6/6, Bowie, noon; Crockett, 3 p.m.; Lanier, 5:45 p.m., both at Frank Erwin Center
6/6, Johnston, 8 p.m., Delco Center
6/7, McCallum, noon, Frank Erwin Center
6/7 Reagan, 5:45 p.m., Delco Center
6/7 Travis, 3 p.m., Frank Erwin Center
6/7 LBJ/LASA, 9 a.m., Frank Erwin Center
Bastrop
5/25, Genesis, 1:30 p.m., Bastrop High School cafeteria
5/30, Bastrop, 8 p.m., Erhard Field, 1602 Hill Street.
Del Valle
6/4, 7 p.m., Texas State University Strahan Coliseum, San Marcos
Dripping Springs
6/6, 8 p.m., Shoreline Center
Eanes
5/30, 8:30 p.m., Frank Erwin Center
Hays
5/30, Hays, 8 p.m., Shelton Stadim
5/31, Lehman, 8 p.m., Shelton Stadium
5/31, The Academy@Hays, 6 p.m., Performing Arts Center
Hutto
6/7, 10 a.m., Shoreline Center
Lago Vista
6/6, 6 p.m., Lago Vista High School gymnasium
Lake Travis
6/5, Shoreline Center, 8 p.m.
Leander
5/30, New Hope, 7:30 p.m., Leander Extended Opportunity Conference Center
6/6, Leander, 9 a.m., Frank Erwin Center
6/8, Cedar Park, 3 p.m., Frank Erwin Center
6/8, Vista Ridge, 6 p.m., Frank Erwin Center
Manor
5/22, EXCEL, 7 p.m., Manor Performing Arts Center
6/5, High School, 1 p.m., Shoreline Center
Pflugerville
6/6, Hendrickson, 9 a.m., Shoreline Center
6/6, Provan Opportunity Center, 7 p.m., Pflugerville High School Performing Arts Center
6/7, Pflugerville, 5:45 p.m., Frank Erwin Center
6/7, Connally, 8:30 p.m., Frank Erwin Center
Round Rock
5/29, Success Program, Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.
5/31, Round Rock, 9 a.m., Frank Erwin Center
5/31, Stony Point, noon, Frank Erwin Center
5/31, Westwood, 3 p.m., Frank Erwin Center
5/31, McNeil, 6 p.m., Frank Erwin Center
San Marcos
5/30, Pathfinder Learning Center, 1 p.m., San Marcos High School auditorium
6/7, High School, 7 p.m., Texas State University Strahan Coliseum, San Marcos
6/5, PRIDE, 10:30 a.m., San Marcos High School auditorium
Wimberley
5/30, 8 p.m., Texas State University Strahan Coliseum, San Marcos
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May 9, 2008
Teacher blacklist: myth or reality, and job fairs
Someone on the Texas Teachers Chatboard is asking about a state-wide blacklist for uppity and/or naughty teachers. The posters there seem to think it’s a myth. Anyone heard otherwise?
And speaking of teaching jobs, the Austin school district is holding its job fair on Saturday at the Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road. Only certified teachers need apply, though student teachers can bring a copy of a transcript showing enrollment and alternative certification program participants can bring letters showing proof of participation.
Del Valle will hold a job fair on Saturday at Del Valle Middle School, 5500 Ross Road.
And the Region 13 Education Service Center, the regional state agency serving Austin-area schools, will hold a job fair on June 5 at 5701 Springdale Road.
I’ve heard the job fairs can be stressful and overwhelming. Any current or prospective teachers planning on attending? Got any tips to share with newbies?
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